Toy automobile



NOV. 26, 1940. H. MULLER TOY AUTOMOBILE Filed March 13. 1939 2sheets-sheet 2 Patented Nov. 26, 1940 PATENT OFFICE 2,223,119 'royAUToMonmE Heinrich Mller, Nuremberg, Germany Application March 13,

1939, serial No. 261,615

In Germany October 20, 1938 7 Claims.

separately arranged clockwork mechanism, both' during the movement ofthe toy motor car and when it is stationary, at any desired intervalsand for any desired periods, by moving a portion of the toy. The signalrelease mechanism, together with the separate clockwork mechanismcontrolled by it, which operates the acoustic signalling arrangement, ismounted in or upon the toy.

In the embodiments illustrated the toy motor i vehicle has the shape ofan open automobile, and, as in actual practice, the releasearrangementis fitted in or on the steering wheel.v Whether the steering wheelitself is arranged to turn or is only an imitationis immaterial as faras the invention is concerned. If the acoustic signalling device isarranged as a push-button onta turning steering wheel las is usually thecase in actual practice, then the attraction and possibilities of thetoy are'considerably enhanced. The signal release mechanism is such thatit allows the separate `signal clockwork to run as long as the releasedevice is actuated by the hand.

A rotating member is provided on the signal clockwork, which is rotatedwhen the mechanism is running down and strikes against a hollow metalbody or against thecar body. This produces a noise resembling theacoustic signals of areal automobile. The provision of a separateclockwork mechanism for giving the audible signals enables`it to be usedeven for toys without driving mechanism, but the invention is primarilyintended to be applied to mechanically propelled toys.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings by way ofexample, but it is understood that the invention is not restricted tothe embodiments herein shown. In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows in side elevation, partly in section, a toy motor vehiclein which a separate signalling clockwork mechanism is shown, wherein the.signal is produced by pressing'a button iitted to the steering wheel;

Figure 2 shows in side elevation, partly in section, an arrangementsimilar to Fig. 1,'in which the signal release is also-eiected bypressing a 5 button on the steering wheel;

Figure 3 is a plan of the steering wheel, look. ing in the direction ofthe arrow in Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is an axial section of the upper part of the steering column ofFig. 2; Figure 5 is a plan 'of the push-button of Fig. 4, looking 'inthe direction of the arrow in Fig. 2;

Figure 6 shows inside elevationpartly in section an embodiment in whichthe whole of the steering column is displaced axially for-the pur- `l5pose of releasing the signal mechanism;

Figure 7 shows in side elevation partly in section, an embodiment inwhich the whole of the steering columnis axially displaced to producethe signal, the signal clockwork mechanism bego ingpartly built into thesignal gong, and a dummy press-buttonV being provided;

Figure 8 is a part plan of Fig. 7, with a gong,

in section; v

Figure 9 shows'in elevation, partly in sec- 25 tiqn, an embodiment inwhich the signal is reproduced by rocking the steering column about itsbottom bearing. e 4 The toy motor car .illustrated in Fig. 1 is.provided witha base I, on which a body 2, contain- -30 ingga known typeof clockwork mechanism I for fdriying the rear wheels'l, is mounted. Thepropelling clockwork is wound up by means of a square spindle 5. In thefront part of the body 2 is secured to the base I afrarne 6, which con-35 tains the acoustic signal operating parts. In this .frame isjournalled a shaft 1 one end of which is provided witlnajsquared spindle8, for winding up a spring 9, mounted on the said shaft. The sha'ft 'Ialso carries a toothed wheel I0, bywhich 40 a shaft II vis rotated bymeans of a known type of drive. The said shaft II projects above the topportion of the frame 6 andcarries a cross member I2, to the ends I3 andI4 whereof centrifugal weights I5 and I6 are attached. 4 To the frame Iis also secured a gong I1, against the rear of which the weights I5 andI6 strike when the -shaft IIrotates, "thus producing a noise resemblingthatof a real automobile.

A partition I8 forming a dash-board is also se- 50;'

n ameter of which is such that it. acts as a stop which actuates thestub axles 29 and the frontiwheels 30. When the steering Wheel is turnedthe front wheels are also turned, thus enabling the toy to run incircles. r

" A push-button 3 I, which slides in the recess 2| of the steeringwheel, is also attached to the steering column 23. 'I'he push-button 3|i's controlled by a spring 32, which abuts against the bottom of therecess 2| and against the pushbutton. The said spring forces thesteering column upwards until 4it abuts against the collar 21- on theshoulder 24.

The steering column 23 is also Vprovided with a disc or washer 33rigidly fixed thereto, the difor the. ends I3 and I4 of the cross memberI2,

thus preventing the said cross member from rotating when the spring 9 isWound up. If

the push-button 3| is depressed, then the steering column 23 and thewasher 33 aillxed thereto --move with it against the pressure` of thespring 32, so that the ends I3 and I4 of the cross member 'I2 arereleased, and the latter is then rotated bythe spring 9. Owing tocentrifugal force, the weights |5 and I6 strike against the base of thegong I1 and produce a harsh noise.

e When the pressure on'the button 3| is released,

the steering column is pulled back by the spring 32, so that the washer33 stops the movement of the ends I3 and I4 of the cross member, andconsequently stops' the production of sound.

The arrangement illustrated in Figs. 42, 3,4 and 5 is similar to that ofFig. 1, except that the steering column 23 is not adapted to slide inthe shoulder piec'e 24, though it is arranged rotatably therein. YIrthis case the push-button 3| is provided with four lugs 34, 35, 36 and31. The bottom of the steering wheel 20 is provided with slots 38, 39,40 and 4|-, corresponding to the lugs 34 to 31 and through -these slotsthe said lugs f project. Inside the steering head a spring 32 isarranged between the steering head and pushbutton. After the lugs 34 to31 have been inserted through the slots the lugs 34 and 35 are bentlback behind the wall I8, thus preventing the from being withdrawn. Theends ofthe lugs 36, and 31 are iixed to a disc 42, which is looselymounted on the steering column. The disc y42 rests against a shoulder 43`on a lever 44, which is pivotedI at 45 to the base I of l the t'oymotor. vehicle and is controlledby a pull spring 46. By means of theVspring 46 the `end 4 1 of the lever 44 is Abrought intov the track ofthe ends I3 and I4 of the cross member I2, so that -the said ends arestopped by the shoulder 41. When a signal is to be given by depressingthe button 3|, the disc 42 slidesdown the column against the action ofthe spring 32, and .through the medium of the shoulder 43 the'lever 44is rocked on its pivot 45 against the pull ofthe springv ,46, thusreleasing the ends I3 and I4 of the cross member. When the pressure o nthe button 3| is removed the springs 32 and 46 bring back the disc 42,and .the lever 44 is again moved sring'46`fthus stopping the signal:

The. embodiment illustrated in Fig shows into thegtrack of the ends I3`and.|4 .by the a steering column 23 similarto that shown inof thedrawings.

Fig. 1. They column 23 is mounted in the bentup portion 24 vat 25 and isprovided with a portion 26 of small diameter and with a collar 21. Aspring 48 is arranged in the recessed portion 26. The steering wheel 20is xed to the column 23. An abutment 49 isalso tted to the column 23,and abuts against an extension 50 of a lever 5I. This lever is pivotallymounted on thebase I, and 'is controlled by a spring 46.,y The saidlever is provided withxa shoulder 53, which is brought into'thetIack ofthe ends I3'and I4 of the cross member for the purpose of stopping themovementas previously explained in regard to Fig. 2. When thespringcontrolled pushbutton, which is preferably marked, is depressed bypressing the steering wheel 20, this pressure is transmitted by theshoulder 49 to the portion 50 of the lever, thus -moving the shoulder 53out of the track of the ends I3 and I4, so that the cross member I2 canrotate. During this movement the spring 46 is tensioned, and when thepressure on the steering wheel is released the steering column 23 ismoved back by .the spring 48, and, the lever 5I is 'also pulled backinto 'its original position by the spring 46, so that it 'again comeswithin the track of the cross member ends I3 and I4.

According to Figs. V'7 and 8 the-steering column 23 is arranged to slidelongitudinally and is conltrolled by a spring 54, which abuts againstthe partition I8 and against .the lower end of the steering'wheel'20.The steering wheel is provided with a driving push-button 3|-,controlled by a spring 55, but the movement' of this push-l button is.only imitative and has no connection with the reproduction of thesignal itself. On the column 23 is mounted a disc 33,.the purpose ofwhich is to stop the rotation of the ends I3 'and I4 of the cross memberI2 inthe same way as in Fig. 1. In-this embodiment the frame 6 of thedriving mechanism is partly fitted inside the gbng I1, th'us savingspace. In thisv ar-v rangement steering is effected by the splined shaft23 and a rack 56, which is mounted on a coupling rod -51. The rod 51engages in the steering swivels or stub axles 58 and 59 of the frontwheels 30. The steering swivels 53 and 59 are rotatably mounted vat 6I)and 6|.

I n the embodiment illustrated by Fig. 9 the steering-column 23 ismounted at 25 in the bentup portion 24 with a certain amount of play, sothat it can swingabout this bearing in the plane 'Ihe partition I8 isprovided with a corresponding opening 62, which enables the controlcolumn to be rocked downwards. A disc 63 is iixed on the column 23. Theedge 64 of this disc co-operates with the edge 65 of a.

lever 61 pivoted to the iioor Iof vthe car at 66.

T helever 61 is controlled by 'a spring 46, which tends to push thesteering column upwards. 1 If the steering column 23 is pressed down inthe direction of the arrow towards the base I, then the edge 64 slidesalong-the inclined edge 6 5 and' brings the stop 68 out of the track ofthe ends I3 and I4 of the cross member, which can then be rotated by thespring 9. When the pressure onthe steering wheel is released the spring46 returns the steering column shown in Fig. 9.

What' -I-claim is: 1. A toy motor vehicle,`comprising a car body,

23 tothe position a steering wheel journalled vin the car body, a

bar rotatably mounted'at its mid point on the car body, clockworkmechanisml for rotating the a push button mounted on the steering wheelfordisengaging the said stopping means, a gong attached to the car body,and centrifugal Weights connected to the ends of the rotatable bar andadapted tostrike the gong when the bar rotates.

2. A toy -motor vehicle, comprising a car body, a steering columnlongitudinally slidable in the car body, a steering Wheel at the upperend of the steering column, a spring resisting ,downward longitudinalmovement of the steering column, a bar rotatably mounted at its midpoint on the car body, clockwork mechanism for rotating the bar, meansfor stopping the rotation of the bar, the said stopping means beingdisengaged by a downward longitudinal movement of theV steering column,a gong attached to the /car body, and centrifugal weights connected tothe ends of the rotatable bar and adapted to strike the gong when thebar rotates.

3. A toy motor vehicle, comprising a car body, a steering wheeljournalled in the car body, a bar rotatably mounted at its mid point onthe car body, clockwork mechanism for rotating the bar, a stopping leverpivotally mounted on the car body and capable of being rocked into aposition in which it intercepts 'the rotatable bar, a push buttonmountedon the steering wheel for disengaging the stopping lever from therotatable bar, a gong attached to the car body, and

centrifugal weights connected to the ends of' car body, clockworkmechanism for rotating the bar, a stopping lever pivotally mounted onthe car body and capable of being rocked into a position in which itintercepts the rotatable bar, a spring constantly tending to keep thestopping lever engaged with the rotatable bar, a push button mounted onthe steering wheel for disengaging the stopping lever from the rotatablebar, ay gong attached to the car body, and centrifugal weights connectedto the ends of the rotatable bar and adapted to strike the gong when thebar rotates.

5. A toy motor vehicle, comprising a car body,

va steering column longitudinally slidable in the car body, a barrotatably mounted at its mid point on the car body, clockwork mechanismfor rotating the bar, a stopping lever pivotally mounted on the car bodyand capable of .being rocked into a position in which it intercepts therotatable bar, the stopping lever being formed with an aperture throughwhich the steering' column passes, a shoulder on the steering columnadapted to rock the stopping lever out of engagement with the rotatablebar when the steering column is depressed, a gong attached to the carbody, and centrifugal weights connected to the ends of the rotatable barand adapted to strike the gong when the bar rotates.A

6. A toy motor vehicle, comprising a car body, a steering columnlongitudinally slidable in the car body, a steering wheel at the upperend of the steering column, a spring resisting downward longitudinalmovement of the 'steering column, a. bar rotatably mounted at its midpoint on the car body, clockwork mechanism for rotating the bar, meansfor stopping the rotation of the bar, the said 'stopping means beingdisengaged by a downward longitudinal movement of the steering column, agong attached to the car body, centrifugal weights connected to the endsof the rotatable bar and adapted to strike the gong when the barrotates, and a springcontrolled dummy push button o n the steeringWheel.

7. A toy motor vehicle, comprising a car body, a bar rotatably mountedat its mid point on the car body, clockwork mechanism for rotating thebar, a steering column movably mounted in the car body,` a steeringwheel at the upper end of the steering column, a stopping leverpivotally mounted on the car body and capable of being rocked into aposition in which it intercepts the rotatable bar, a spring constantlytending to keep the stopping lever engaged with the rotatable bar, meansmounted on the steering column for disengaging the stopping lever fromthe rotatable bar when the steering column is moved, a gong attached tothe car body, and centrifugal weights connected to the ends of therotatable bar and adapted to' strike the gong when the bar rotates.

' HEJNRICH MLLER.

